Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. H. FRAZER & G. M. GULVER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 285,744. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

i M m.

N. PETERS. Pholoilbographlr. Wnhinghm D. C.

UNIT D STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES'H. FRAZEE AND GEORGE M.

CULVER, OF IE/USPIXTILLE, INDIANA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,744, datedSeptember 25, 1883.

Application filed February 15, 1883. (X model.)

of a fire-escape that can be readily attached to the top of a window,door, or to the caves of a building, or to a projecting beam extendingoutward at some convenient point below the eaves. Another object is toprovide by the arrangement of the various parts means by which personsdescending from the upper part of a building can lessen or acceleratethe downward movement at will or stop at any point de- 4 V sired. Weattain these objects by the peculiar formation and arrangement ofdevices, which will be more fully set forth and pointed out in thespecification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of ourimproved fireescape, showing the same attached to a window-sill, withrope and depending basket. Fig. 2 shows the rollers, rope, and rubberbrakes in position, with one-half of box removed. Fig. 3 is a centralcross-section, showing the position of rollers, ropes, and apertures inthe box through which the rope passes.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an angular box, its upper endconverged to near a central point, to which is attached strap a andhanging-eye b, by which the device is suspended. Strap a passes over theconverged end of box A, and its outer ends are turned inward at rightangles and perforated to receive the bolt 0, that is formed to passthrough said perforations and through the box to hold said strap a inplace.

At the four corners of box A bolts (1 d d d, being screw-threaded andhaving nuts, pass through perforations in the same and serve to hold thetwo halves of said box in place.

The outer face of box A is. pierced near its center with an elongatedslot, 6, and on each side with similar slots, f f. Said box A is formedof two halfsections and size,and is held together by the bolts d (Z (Z(2. Two rollers, B and O, are formed of equal lengths and of equaldiameters, and having hearing or guide pins g g 9, extending outwardfrom the ends of each. A narrow shallow groove, 9 is formed aroundroller B at a point about midway between its ends, the purpose of whichis to receive rope h, that passes once around roller B, within thelimits of groove A groove, i, is also formed around roller 0, ofsufficient width and depth to permit of rope h passing two or more timesaround the same. Said groove i is formed centrally around roller 0 andnearly opposite groove 9* in roller 13.

Below roller 0, and resting on the bottom of box A, are three brakesections or bearings,

jjj constructed of rubber or other suitable material, and formed concaveon their upper faces to conform .to the size and shape of roller 0. Saidbrake-sections areconnected to each other by joining plates of the sameor other material. Said brake sections or blocks are located one at eachend of roller G and one at the center of the same, on the under or lowerface of roller 0, and between said roller and the inner face of thebottom of box A. The purpose of this construction is to receive theroller 0 and form a bearing for the same, and against which, by means ofthe rope h and the roller B, the speed of the descending basket orweight on the end of rope h is regulated.

The operation is as follows: When ready for use, the rope h is passed upthrough an aperture in the bottom of box A, two or more times around thegrooved part i of roller 0; thence upward and once around groove thenceout through the slot 6 in the outer face of box A, from this point tothe ground, or coiled up loosely in the basket D, which is attached tothe opposite end of rope h, or the rope is put in the position describedbefore the two halfsections of box A are joined together. When joinedtogether as described, the rollers and rope assume the position shown inFig. 2. The box A is then suspended above a window, or at any desirablepoint, when the operator steps into the basket, seizes hold of theoutside rope, as shown in Fig. 1, and with very little force similar inshape lowers himself or weight to the ground. An expenditure of eight orten pounds retaining force exerted on the outside rope or' the end ofthe rope passing through slot 6 will control at will a descending weightin the basket or attached to the end of the rope passing out of theaperture in the bottom of box A, and permit the operator and passengersto land in safety from the highest buildings.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat ent, is-

1. In a fireescape, a box formed with openings through its sides andbottom, and containing rollers arranged one above another, the lowerroller resting on flexible bearings, said rollers operated by a ropepassing over and around them and through openings in said box,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the box A, formed in two sections, and havingopenings, as described,

the rollers 13 and 0, having grooves and guidepins, said pins adapted tomove vertically in openings in said box, the flexible sectionssupporting roller 0, as shown, and a single operating-rope passingaround said rollers and through openings in said box, the Whole arrangedand operating substantially as shown and specified.

3. The combination of the box A, formed of two equal sections joinedtogether with bolts and nuts, as described, and having openings andstrap-eye, as shown, with rollers 13 and 0, rubber bearings j j j, andrope h, arranged and operated substantiallyas shown and specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES H. FRAZEE. GEORGE M. OULVER. Witnesses:

PAUL J. BEAOHBARD, LEONIDAS LINK.

